The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Whitefish was a cozy little frontier burg, all because Sheriff Whitefish Will ruled the roost with a well-muscled, but gentle, hand. Just a look at Will's pecs sent outlaws running and rustlers screaming for the hills. Will did his job so well that crime took a holiday, and so did Will--a permanent one--when the parsimonious townsfolk figured he was no longer needed. Retiring to the desert, Will watched the years pass and learned to play the harmonica, much to the despair of the local coyotes. Meanwhile, back in Whitefish, Bart and his gang of horse rustlers come to the ripe-for-plucking town. They steal all the townspeople's horses, then their money, then their clothes. Finally, in an effort to get the citizens riled--they have met each demand so far with polite generosity--Bart threatens to burn the town. Pushed too far, the townsfolk recall Whitefish Will from obscurity to save the day. Yorinks (Christmas in July, 1991, etc.) is in this for the yuks and not ashamed of it, mainly because he pulls it off so well. Adding another spicy dimension are Drucker's Mad magazine characters, who--now almost 40 years old--seem like old friends. (Fiction/Picture book. All ages)

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